Mechanically driven handtool

ABSTRACT

A mechanically driven hand tool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements comprises a ball-shaped casing accommodating drive means and consisting of a ball cup; a bearing tube pivoted to said ball cup; a casing member of ball race configuration rotatable about a main shaft for adjustment; and a detachable ball cup serving as a cover.

United States Patent I Johann Steiner [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor No. 5, Neuenburger, Berlin 61, Germany [21] App1.No. 820,047

[22] Filed Apr. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [32] Priority Apr. 30; 1968 3 3 Germany Assistant ExaminerWes1ey S. Ratiff, Jr.

Attorney-Lowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith ABSTRACT: A mechanically driven hand tool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements comprises a ball-shaped casing accommodating drive means and consisting ofa ball cup; a bearing tube pivoted to said ball cup; a casing [54] MECHANIC/ALLY DRIVEN HANDTOOL 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

Al6c 3/08 74/44. 600; 81/177; 123/305; 32/52, 53, 54, 56

member of ball race configuration rotatable about a main [50] Field shaft for adjustment; and a detachable ball cup serving as a cover.

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JOHAIWV STEM/EA ATT Y5.

MECHANICALLY DRIVEN HANDTOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel mechanically driven handtool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements which offers essential technical advantages over conventional tools of this type.

Many tools move by hand, particularly cutting tools, are reciprocated as required for the desired performance such as sawing or filling. To improve efficiency, it has already become known to mechanize these movements, the lateral changes in position necessary for filing work having been left to the hand guiding the tool. In nearly all tools of this type. a rotary working movement is converted into strokelike movements by means ofa crank drive. Moreover, it has become known to adjust the stroke according to actual requirements. One form of such tool is described and illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,690,08 I. All these tools have in common that the head car rying out the reciprocating movements is provided with means for detachably receiving and securing the tools. Holding and guiding by hand is possible by means of a pistol handle which is in most cases secured rectangularly with respect to the reciprocating movement and through which is passed the rotary drive. Bendable shafts may be connected to the lower end of the handle. In a more recent construction, a compressedair-driven motor is accommodated in the handle. The supply of compressed air is effected at the lower end of the handle. These known tools mainly perform planing, i.e. smoothing works by channeling, filing, shaving, honing, lapping and polishing.

The conventional tools are disadvantageous in view of the fact that the pistol handle extends in most cases rectangularly with respect to the reciprocating movement. For example if large and flat dies are to be worked in their ground, the downwardly directed pistol handle as well as the bendable shaft connected thereto will engage with the outer die wall in a disturbing manner. Extensions of the tools are of insufficient rigidity to transmit the required working pressure. Trying to laterally or upwardly shift the hindering handle and the drive shaft will soon result in a cramped condition of the hand guiding the tool, which hand must provide the necessary working pressure for extensive periods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a new hand tool that is devoid of the disadvantages mentioned in the foregoing description.

To attain this object, the present invention provides a mechanically driven hand tool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements, which comprises a ballshaped casing accommodating drive means and consisting of a ball cup; a bearing tube pivoted to said ball cup; a casing member of ball race configuration rotatable about a main shaft for adjustment, and a detachable ball cup serving as a cover.

Thus, the ball-shaped casing receiving the drive means consists of three parts so that the driving bevel wheel may be adjusted with respect to the bevel wheel driving the main shafts to any desired angle which may also be inclined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a longitudinal section through a mechanically driven hand tool according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, the cover being removed,and

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two of a number of possible holding positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. ii, the reference numeral I. indicates a ball cup to which is fixed a tube 2 carrying a drive shaft 3. A transverse bearing sleeve ii is cast integrally with the central portion of the ball cup I and holds a main shaft 5. The main shaft 5 is driven by a pair of mating bevel wheels 6 and 7. The bevel wheel 7 is larger than the bevel wheel 6 and is provided with a T-shaped groove into which fits a threaded sliding block 8 that enables attachment and adjustment of a crank stub 9 having a big end bearing W and a connecting rod llll so that it also serves to adjust the working stroke. The casing member 112 is in the form of a ball race and its upper end is integrally cast with a threaded bore 113 for the reception of a bush ll il for a rotatably mounted working piston 11% which is connected to the crank stud 9 through the connecting rod Ill.

The casing member I2 is centered with respect to the ball cup l by means of a ring l6 and fixing; screws l7 and thus can be rotated about the main shaft 5. A ruibber ring 118 in a groove provided in the body of the ball cup I may be biased by the ring 16 and the fixing screws 17 in such a manner that the driving member 19 may be adjusted with respect to the driven member 20 to any desired angular position and without the aid of any auxiliary tool. This adjustable arrangement enables the operator to bring the tube 2 and the driving member 119 into a nondisturbing position that may be attained while keeping the hand in normal positions. The ball cup 211 is in the form of a detachable cover and is connected to the casing member 12 by means of an annular stop spring 22. Upon removal of the cover 2], and adjustment screw 23 is accessible for adjusting the stroke (FIG. 2). The three-part ball casing approximately has the size of a tennis ball and therefore is well suited for manual operation. During operation, the ball-shaped casing fills the hollow of the hand, forefinger and middle finger resting on a dishshaped support M. The reference numeral 25 indicates a guide bore for the reception of a tool x.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Iclaim:

l. A mechanically driven handtzool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements, comprising a ball-shaped casing accommodating drive means; said casing consisting of a first ball cup, a further casing member of ball race configuration and a detachable second ball cup serving as a cover; a bearing tube fixed to said first ball cup and containing a rotatable driving member; a main shaft centrally located in said first ball cup, said further casing member being rotatable about said main shaft; a pair of mating bevel gears for operatively connecting said rotatable driving member with said main shaft, one of said bevel wheels including a T-shaped groove, a threaded sliding block adjustable in said T-shaped groove and a crank stud on said sliding block; a bush containing a rotatably mounted working piston mounted on said further casing; and a connecting rod operatively connecting said piston to said crank stud whereby the relative position of said bush to said bearing tube and the working stroke of said connecting rod may both be adjusted.

2. A handtool as claimed in claim I, wherein the casing member is adjustably connected to the ball cup in centered relationship therewith by means of a :ring and fixing screws, and wherein a rubber ring is resiliently biased in a guide groove by means of the ring and the fixing screws so that the drive means can be adjusted with respect to driven means to any desired angular position without the aid of any auxiliary tools.

3. An adjustable mechanically driven handtool comprising:

a. a substantially hemispherical housing member;

b. a bearing tube connected to the wall of said housing member;

c. a driving member in said bearing tube extending through the wall into said housing member;

d. a main shaft rotatably mounted in said housing member;

e. means operatively connecting said driving member to said main shaft; l

f. a casing member of ball race configuration rotatably secured to the perimeter of said hemispherical housing member for rotation about said main shaft;

g. a power output extension including a driven member connected to said casing member; and

h. means operatively connecting said main shaft to said driven member;

i. whereby the position of said power output extension relative to said bearing tube may be adjusted about the axis of said main shaft.

4. A handtool as claimed in claim 3 wherein the axes of said rotary driving member and said main shaft are substantially transverse to each other and said means operatively connecting said driving member to said main shaft comprises a pair of bevel gears.

5. A handtool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said driven member is mounted for reciprocating motion in said power output extension and said means operatively connecting said main shaft to said driven member comprises crank means and a connecting rod jointing said crank means to said driven member.

6. A handtool as claimed in claim 5 wherein one end of said connecting rod is connected to pivotal means eccentrically mounted on said main shaft, said pivotal means being adjustable in distance from the axis of said main shaft whereby the stroke ofsaid driven member may be adjusted.

7. A handtool as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a generally hemispherical cover mounted on said casing member of ball race configuration whereby said cover. casing member and hemispherical housing member form a substantially complete sphere. said cover being removable to adjust said pivot means. 

1. A mechanically driven handtool for carrying out strokelike and adjustable working movements, comprising a ball-shaped casing accommodating drive means; said casing consisting of a first ball cup, a further casing member of ball race configuration and a detachable second ball cup serving as a cover; a bearing tube fixed to said first ball cup and containing a rotatable driving member; a main shaft centrally located in said first ball cup, said further casing member being rotatable about said main shaft; a pair of mating bevel gears for operatively connecting said rotatable driving member with said main shaft, one of said bevel wheels including a T-shaped groove, a threaded sliding block adjustable in said T-shaped groove and a crank stud on said sliding block; a bush containing a rotatably mounted working piston mounted on said further casing; and a connecting rod operatively connecting said piston to said crank stud whereby the relative position of said bush to said bearing tube and the working stroke of said connecting rod may both be adjusted.
 2. A handtool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing mEmber is adjustably connected to the ball cup in centered relationship therewith by means of a ring and fixing screws, and wherein a rubber ring is resiliently biased in a guide groove by means of the ring and the fixing screws so that the drive means can be adjusted with respect to driven means to any desired angular position without the aid of any auxiliary tools.
 3. An adjustable mechanically driven handtool comprising: a. a substantially hemispherical housing member; b. a bearing tube connected to the wall of said housing member; c. a driving member in said bearing tube extending through the wall into said housing member; d. a main shaft rotatably mounted in said housing member; e. means operatively connecting said driving member to said main shaft; f. a casing member of ball race configuration rotatably secured to the perimeter of said hemispherical housing member for rotation about said main shaft; g. a power output extension including a driven member connected to said casing member; and h. means operatively connecting said main shaft to said driven member; i. whereby the position of said power output extension relative to said bearing tube may be adjusted about the axis of said main shaft.
 4. A handtool as claimed in claim 3 wherein the axes of said rotary driving member and said main shaft are substantially transverse to each other and said means operatively connecting said driving member to said main shaft comprises a pair of bevel gears.
 5. A handtool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said driven member is mounted for reciprocating motion in said power output extension and said means operatively connecting said main shaft to said driven member comprises crank means and a connecting rod jointing said crank means to said driven member.
 6. A handtool as claimed in claim 5 wherein one end of said connecting rod is connected to pivotal means eccentrically mounted on said main shaft, said pivotal means being adjustable in distance from the axis of said main shaft whereby the stroke of said driven member may be adjusted.
 7. A handtool as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a generally hemispherical cover mounted on said casing member of ball race configuration whereby said cover, casing member and hemispherical housing member form a substantially complete sphere, said cover being removable to adjust said pivot means. 